Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2025
Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2025 - Plain Language Summary **What the Bill Would Do** This bill would change how Congress reviews and rejects regulations issued near the end of a presidential term. Currently, if Congress wants to disapprove of multiple regulations that were issued in a president's final year, it must vote on each one separately through individual resolutions. This bill would allow Congress to disapprove of several of these regulations using a single vote instead, streamlining the process. **Who It Affects and Key Provisions** The bill primarily affects Congress and the executive branch's regulatory process.
It builds on existing law called the Congressional Review Act, which already gives Congress a period to review and potentially reject regulations issued in the final weeks of a president's term. The main change is procedural efficiency—allowing lawmakers to bundle multiple regulations into one disapproval vote rather than holding separate votes for each regulation. This could make it easier and faster for Congress to overturn regulations they oppose. **Current Status** The bill (S 164) was introduced in the 119th Congress by Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin) and is currently in committee, meaning it hasn't yet advanced to a full Senate vote.
CRS Official Summary
Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2025This bill allows Congress to disapprove multiple regulations under one joint resolution of disapproval if the regulations were submitted for review during a portion of the final year of a President's term.Under current law, the Congressional Review Act generally provides for a period of additional review during the succeeding Congress for regulations that were submitted during the last 60 legislative days of the prior Congress. However, each joint resolution may disapprove of only one regulation.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.